Hasp-type fastener



Feb. 26, 1935. A TT RF I 1,992,734

HASP TYPE FASTENER Filed Oct. 8, 1952 Patented Feb. 26, 1935 HASP-TYPEFASTENER Louis A. Bittorf, Sterling, 111., assignor to NationalManufacturing Company, Sterling, IlL, a corporation of IllinoisApplicationOctober 8, 1932, Serial No. 636,789

1 Illa im (01. 292-340) My invention relates to fastener devices of thehasp-type which are particularly useful in connection withthe fasteningof doors and various other kinds of closure members.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved hasp-typefastener which is exceedingly simple in construction, is inexpensive tomanufacture, is quite strong and durable, and is fully effective as aclosure fastening means over long periods of use notwithstanding wearand weather-exposure effects.

Another object is to provide a structure of the foregoing characterwherein tensioning means is employed for retaining the several partsthereof in predetermined adjusted position. To this end, I employ ahinged hasp member slotted to receive a yieldably and rotatably mountedkeeper member, both the hasp member and keeper member being sorelatively shaped thatthe hasp member is placed and held under tensionin the fastening position of the parts so that such parts are held insuch position against accidental displacement by vibration, shocks, windpressures and various strains and stresses that may be imposedthereupon.

A more specific object is to provide a hinged hasp member having anoutwardly-onset, slotted end portion adapted to receive ayieldably-supported and rotatable keeper which is provided with cammingmeans for placing the offset end of the hasp member under tension formaintaining the parts in engaged position against accidentaldisplacement.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this descriptionprogresses and by reference to the drawing wherein,-

Figure 1 is a fragmental top edge view of a. structure having myinvention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged assembly view of the keeper structure, theseparated parts being shown in perspective.

Referring particularly to the drawing, I have illustrated ahaspstructure applied to a door 10 adapted to close an opening 11 formed bya plurality of frame members, one of which isshown at 12. The haspfastener structure takes the form of a hinge member having a leaf 13secured to the door adjacent its free edge by a plurality of screws orother fastening devices 14. Another leaf member 15 is connected to theleaf 13 by a pintle 16, which latter leaf is arranged to structure whichincludes a base 17 secured to the frame member by a plurality of screwsor other fastening devices 13. This base is provided with a central andfrusto-conical raised portion 17 providing a similarly-shaped pocket17*" in the underside of the base for rotatable reception and securementof a keeper member 19. More particularly, the keeper 19 takes the formof a keylike head l9 having a slot 19 for the reception of a lockingdevice as will be referred to more particularly hereinafter. providedwith a flat, step-down stem 19? providing shoulders 19 and 19 Thecentral raised portion 1'7 of the base is provided with a central,circular opening 17 of a diameter substantially that of the keeper stemsection 19 which opening is adapted to receive the keeper stem with itsshoulder 19 rotatably seated upon the base around the opening 17 and itsstem sections 19 and 19 extending into the base pocket 17*. The portionof the stem within the pocket 7 17 receives first a spring washer 20having an opening 20 of suflicient size to freely receive the keeperstem section 19 and a lock washer 21 having a rectahgularly-shapedopening 21 of substantially the dimensions of the keeper stem section 19so that this washer will seat against the keeper stem shoulder 19% Withthe parts thus assembled, the inner end of the keeper stem is upset asat 22 and the relationship of the parts thus described is such that,when the .keeper stem is thusly upset, the spring washer 20 iscompressed and the keeper is yieldingly secured with the keeper stemshoulder 19 seated upon the top of the base under tension.

The outer or free end portion 15 of the hasp hinge member 15 is offsetoutwardly from its portion adjacent the pintle 16. It will be noted thatwhen the keeper 19 is secured in the base, a slight space is leftbetween the underside of the keeper head and the adjacent top portion ofthe base. Also, the underside of the keeper head tapers upwardly andoutwardly from the keeper stem to provide a cam-like surface whichinsures a camming action in the securement of the parts in theirfastened position. The offsetting of the end 15 of the free hasp memberis such that the oifset end of this member is spaced from the adjacentface of the frame member 12 a distance substantially greater than theminimum distance between the keeper head 19 and the base 17. The

The keeper head is oifset end of the hasp member 15 is provided with alongitudinal, elongated slot 23 which is adapted to freely receive thekeeper head 19? when the latter is rotated to position its plane alongthe longitudinal axis of such slot. When the hinge hasp member 15 ismoved toward thekeeper member and the keeper member is passed throughthe slot 23 and rotated crosswise of such slot, the outer tapered underedge of the keeper head first engages or picks up the adjacent slot-edgesurface of the member 15 and, as this rotation of the keeper iscontinued, the tapered surface of the head depresses the offset portionof the member 15 and places the same under tension in an obvious manner.The hinge hasp structure is, preferably, formed of sheet metal or othersuitable material which has some inherent flexibility and facilitatesthe action just described.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that, by

yieldably mounting the keeper, and by flexing the end of the member 15toward the frame member 12 as the keeper is rotated to its fasteningposition, the coactive result is the holding of the keeper in itsfastening position under tension so that, if the structure is subjectedto various vibrations, shocks, etc., it will not gradually move or creepinto a position wherein the hasp member 15 will become loosened andfreed from the keeper. Furthermore, it is quite desirable,when thekeeper is moved to an unfastening position and the hasp member removedtherefrom, that the keeper remain in this position ready for receptionof the same in the slot 23 when it is again desired to fasten or movethe parts to the position of Figs. 1 and 2. This arrangement insures theforegoing features regardless whether the closure structure is mountedin a vertical or other plane. In the event that it is desired to lockthe closure in its fastened position, any suitable form of lock may bepassed through the keeper head slot 19 as will be readily understood. Itwill also be noted that with the particular arrangement of parts which Iemploy, the fastening devices 14 and 18 are concealed and renderedinaccessible when the structure is in its fastened position, therebyguarding against opening of the door or closure 10 by an unauthorizedperson when a lock is applied to the keeper 19. The yieldable mountingfor the keeper and its tensioned engagement with the hinge hasp memberfurther insures proper fastening over long periods of use,notwithstanding wear and ordinary weather depreciating effects.

While I have shown and described only one form of structure embodying myinvention, it is to be understood that other changes in details andarrangements of parts may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of my invention as defined by the claim which follows:

I claim:

Structure of the class described which comprises a keeper structureengageable with one of a pair of hingedly connected members forfastening purposes which includes a base member having an openingtherein and a pocket in its under side, a keeper member having a headand a stem thereon adapted to pass through said opening into saidpocket, said stem having a shoulder adapted to rotatably seat said stemupon said base with said head spaced from the latter, a washer mountedupon said stem within said pocket, said stem having another shoulderagainst which said washer is seated, and spring means in said pocketconfined between said washer and said base for yieldably holding saidkeeper member in any position to which it may be rotated.

LOUIS A. BITTORF.

